To think that P&C spaces in supermarket car parks

[Braganza]

AIBU to think that where there is a pedestrian pavement down the middle of a supermarket car park, it would make far more sense to have the parent and child parking in a well lit area further away from the entrance. This would mean that the spaces would not get clogged up by drivers without children too lazy to find a space, and in some car parks could be in an area with less traffic.

How do people even have time to notice who parks where notso?

Unless Sparkling, you 'dash back to your car' and you can't get in it.

You can't park your trolley at the side of your car and have to leave it behind where cars drive past, and who do you try and squash in first? Your 3 year old who can't walk easily by herself? Or your 7 month old in a carseat?

Either way sliding down the side of the car, desperately trying to wedge the carseat through the gap while keeping an eye on your toddler sitting in the path of cars is SO FUN! I think this happened because someone with a sore knee was in my space

boney it's not prissy. presumably you would be pissed off if all the p&c spaces were full of drivers with neither children nor disability and you had to park at far end of the car park. Without commenting on whether it is right for you to park there, it's surely not contentious that there are people who are too lazy to walk another few metres that do use them. Moving p&c spaces would mean there were more nearer the entrance not hogged by people inconsiderate enough to have small children in tow. Perhaps they could even have spaces for people with mobility issues but no blue badge, but that's another issue.

curiousgeorgie

I am so pleased that I just have a sore knee, I shall throw away the crutches right now as I am obviously milking the system and don't need them.

I don't know anything about your knee Boney, but I do know you don't have a blue badge.

If its that bad, perhaps apply for one and then you can literally park wherever you want? though you seem to do this anyway

"though you seem to do this anyway"

Lets not be goady georgie just because I understand the term courtesy.

But as you are happy to report anyone that gets in "your" parking space I am sure that you will get along just fine.

How is parking where you shouldn't 'courtesy'

Please enlighten me.

How can you not understand that P&C spaces are proved as a courtesy.

*provided

But some people find them necessary. People they're intended for, not people who feel self entitled to use them.

I think it's pointless people going 'they weren't here in my day' and 'you don't have a right to them' because supermarkets and outlets provide them now, and they are enforced; in my local supermarket they have signs up warned people of fines if the spaces aren't used properly. So that's the end of that really.

You are less able with babies and young children; you're not going to be sprinting about. It also stops you scraping other people's cars because your door needs to be open wide, or because you're wielding a pram/car seat.

I say this as a mum of an able bodied 3 yo so I don't use them anymore. There are more people in greater need than me, I was a new mum once and remember being really worried about getting in/out of the car with the car seat and stuff and being worried about scratching or bumping someone else's property. For me it was wanting to be careful of other people's property.

curiousgeorgie
"But some people find them necessary."

Yes some people do, I use them for the same protective reasons that you do.

But as we are not going to agree that some people (other than parents) have need of these spaces, I am going to leave you to it.

Are you a parent with a child?

I would love the P&C spaces to be further away from the doors, I often think this. I don't mind getting cold/ wet, but I do prefer to be able to get the baby into the car without contorting my knackered old back too much. I also prefer not to dent the car next to me.

Boney this is ridiculous, how can you actually be arguing that you, a person deemed not worthy of a blue badge, should get to park in P&C spaces just because you think it's right?! Despite not having children... And not being disabled..

I really hope you live near me and I get to report you.

Thanks for correcting me Flossie I clearly haven't been on MN enough these last few days

Please enlighten me - why should she??

curiousgeorfie - any one would think you're the only one who has had the experience of parking with small DC! We've all been there, and we are all entitled to our opinion.

"I really hope you live near me and I get to report you."

I feel sorry for anyone that lives near you with any sort of temporary mobility problems.

Because its a debate.

That's sort if how these things work.

My mother is disabled and has a blue badge. Three times this week I have been unable to find an empty disabled space. This is normal. When this happens we just have to give up and go home. I'd like to see all P&C spaces converted to disabled spaces. Having a child is not the same as having a disability. This seems to be difficult for some people to understand.

I have no problem with the P&C spaces when the car park has plenty of free spaces. I park elsewhere.

My issue arises when the local supermarket - which has limited spaces - is full apart from the P&C spaces.

Does a mother, who isn't even in the vicinity, have a greater need of shopping?

In those circumstances, why should I defer the need to shop in favour of an able-bodied person who might not even turn up?

Claudius - that's not the point. No one is saying disabled spaces aren't important or that (legitimately) disabled people shouldn't use P&C..

Curioisgeorgie - You are demanding enlightenment, and threatening reporting. Great debating skills.

Runningonwillpower - please, please tell me you took a picture? Because that's like a once in a lifetime event.

Every other space full, and all P&C spaces empty??

really?

No one on crutches or with cancer or with a disability is going to get fined. The store wouldn't want the bad publicity.